Connector, connector assembly and a detection terminal

Abstract

A housing (10) has a lock arm (20) that pivots about a fulcrum (23) that is rearward of a pivoting portion (24) of the lock arm (20). A detection terminal (50) has a rear support (52) supported on the housing (10) rearward of the pivoting portion (24). An action portion (54) of the detection terminal (50) is engaged with the pivoting portion (24) and displaces with the pivoting portion (24). The lock arm (20) deforms during connection of the housing (10) and a mating housing (90) so that contacts (53) of the detection terminal (50) are not in contact with mating detection terminals (97). However, the lock arm (20) returns resiliently when the housings (10, 90) are connected properly so that the contacts (53) contact the mating detection terminals (97).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention relates to a detection terminal, a connector and a connector assembly with a detection terminal. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,395 discloses a connector with a housing and a mating housing that are connectable with one another. A detection terminal is inserted into the housing from behind and contacts a mating detection terminal in the mating housing when the housings are connected properly. A resiliently deformable lock arm is cantilevered backward from the front end of the housing, and has an end that is movable vertically relative to the front end. [0005] The detection terminal is below the lock arm, and includes a support that is supported on a front inner wall of the housing. A main body extends obliquely up towards the back from the support. A rear part of the main body is angled to project up to define an action portion that can be pressed by the pivoting po...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a connector with a housing that can be connected to another housing. The housing has a lock arm with a pivoting portion and a detection terminal with a contact. When the housings are connected, the lock arm pivots and causes the contact to move. The contact engages the mating detection terminal from above, eliminating the need for a separate protection wall and reducing production costs. The connector also has a simplified structure and allows for easy quality control.

Problems solved by technology

As a result, the above-described connector cannot meet demands for miniaturization and costs are high.

Accordingly, the pivoting portion of the lock arm must be able to deform a large amount, thereby further complicating efforts to meet demands for miniaturization of the connector.

This results in the extension of the mating detection terminal, and hence a very large supporting area can not be ensured.

Therefore, the press-in portion and main body must be formed separately at opposite sides of the support by folding, which has caused a problem of complicating the structure of the detection terminal.

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